Colossians 3:12 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and loved, clothes yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience,
These verses mark (with therefore) a shift from the vice list given in verses 5-8 to a new list of virtues. These are what the Colossians need to clothe themselves. Paul repeats the same verb as verse 10. Putting on new clothes was one of Paul’s favorite illustrations for the change that takes place when a person comes to believe in Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14; 2 Corinthians 2:5; Galatians 3:27). New clothes are visible to other people and sometimes represent a person’s position. The old dirty rags we used to wear are exchanged for the glorious new clothing fit for the children of the king. People should be able to see our change in character. Our clothing will mark us as God’s chosen people who are holy and loved. God loves us and makes us holy. We have been chosen “in Christ,” not in the sense of eternal predestination but as the very reason we have been created. This is a wide open invitation to “whosoever believes” (John 3:16).
Each of the qualities Paul lists can be translated with many different English words. They all find their source and example in Jesus Christ who is the perfect representation of God and God’s character. Compassion (splangchna) refers to the inner parts of a person, the “bowels.” We often experience a physical sensation in our guts when moved by a situation. Our guts are often called our second brain. God is compassionate and calls his people to be compassionate in his likeness. The compassion is emphasized with another word of compassion (oiktirmou) meaning concern, mercy, or pity shown to someone. When we see someone with a need, whether that be physical, spiritual, material, or emotional, we should shown them kindness. This comes through the empowering Holy Spirit in imitation of Christ (Philippians 2:1).
Kindness (chrēstotēta) refers to being helpful and generous to others. This is especially needed in the church to maintain unity. Kindness is one way to express deep compassion.
Humility (tapeinophrosynēn) begins with an attitude of submission to God. Our humility should be modeled after Jesus, who humbled himself to the point of death on the cross (Philippians 2:2-11). Humility is given with kindness and gentleness in a similar virtue list in Ephesians 4:2.
Gentleness (prautēta) is a close companion to kindness is that a person sets aside his or her agenda and responds in kind ways to the needs of others. This is a rich word that has many possible translations in English, including meekness and humility in dealing with other people.
Patience (makrothymian) is made of two parts literally means “long suffering.” One perseveres through suffering that may be caused by others or circumstances. Sometimes this word is translated as endurance because that is what it takes to make it through various types of suffering.
Each of these virtues are the result of the work of the Holy Spirit conforming us to the likeness of Christ (Galatians 5:22-23). Paul does not refer to the Holy Spirit very much in this letter, just in 1:8-9 and 3:16. These are missing direct reference to Christology, but the Spirit gives us the knowledge we need to experience God’s fullness.
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